How Scan to BIM Modeling is useful in restoring historical or heritage buildings

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We shall talk about the restoration of Heritage Buildings after the advent of scan to BIM Modeling. Building Information Modeling as we all know has become mandatory across many countries. One of the most important and dynamic invention in this field is the point cloud modeling services which have made refurbishing of old buildings easier than before.

Renovation and enhancement of Government Buildings, Heritage Structures, Old buildings that are worn out needs to be rebuilt or reconstructed to ensure proper maintenance. BIM is an extremely useful tool when it comes to working on such projects. The best part of virtual construction modeling is the approach that is followed in the documentation and overall work process. Decades back when point cloud modeling did not exist, survey company carried out manual surveys to measure building sites. This process is very tedious and many results in many inaccuracies ultimately resulting in the slow and sloppy documentation. Though reading scan data and converting these scan data into BIM Models is not an easy or effortless process, however, it is more viable in terms of the efforts taken to ground level to measure the site. There can be carvings, moldings, irregular dimensioning in the 3d geometry etc. Technicians working on the project or point cloud to BIM conversion project needs to have exceptional knowledge of Virtual Construction Modeling as well as reading scans. Therefore, over a period of time, the modelers build a parametric library of components which can be used to develop multiple building structures from scans.

Virtual construction modeling has also diversified into a subcategory called HBIM – Historical building information modelling. This technology enables one to develop a library of components that can be later used for modeling historical or heritage buildings. Revit families for Carvings, irregular geometries, Rooftops, Roof components, Timber structures etc. can be created to ensure accurate development of the building structures. Many times it becomes very difficult and practically impossible to maintain shapes and accuracy together. Illustrating the shapes is the most challenging aspect while developing the intricate geometry when we develop 3D Models from the scans.

Let us discuss more on the shape modeling in point cloud. Usually, remodeling of the heritage building sites falls under the Architectural domain. It is very important that all the complex sizes, shapes, geometries like planes, curves, extrusions etc. have to be identified from the raw scan data and then modeled using this technology. We need to manually model the components right from the start by making cross sections, Revit families which are parametric in nature and by giving appropriate levels. Categorization of the geometries is critical in this type of projects.

Besides this the Architectural, Structural and MEP Models created from point cloud can also have other components other than Architectural shapes and geometries. They may have MEP components such as ducts, valves etc. There can be structural components like columns, beams, joists, bolts etc. which needs to be created and placed in the final as-built model.